Feb. 10, 2026, 1:58 p.m. ET
With the 2026 NFL offseason underway for the Jacksonville Jaguars, we will be taking a position-by-position look at the current state of the roster.
Up next are the running backs. Below, you can catch up with our other previews.
Jaguars running backs under contract in 2026Bhayshul TutenLeQuint AllenJa’Quinden JacksonExpert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.2025 season in review
It was a bounce-back season for Travis Etienne, who eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the third time in his career. He rushed for seven touchdowns and averaged 4.3 yards per rush.
Etienne’s ability to move around pre-snap and operate in space made him a good fit for Liam Coen’s offensive scheme.
Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen shared the backup running back role. Tuten brought added juice to the position, while Allen primarily handled pass-blocking duties.
The running backs were also involved in the passing game relatively often. Etienne had 52 targets, while Tuten and Allen combined for 25 targets.
However, while Etienne and the run game shouldered the offensive workload early on in the season, it was tough sledding on the ground during the second half of the year.
Overall, the Jaguars ranked 27th in yards per rush. From Week 10 on, there were five games where Etienne failed to rush for over 60 yards. The running lanes that were there early on were hard to find down the stretch.
What is the offseason need in 2026?
If Etienne ends up signing elsewhere, running back will have to be addressed this offseason. In this scenario, Tuten and Allen will lead the way, but depth and competition behind them will be needed — although whether it’s in free agency or the draft, premium capital shouldn’t have to be spent on this position.
Now, the big question is whether or not Etienne returns. My guess is that after investing draft picks into Tuten and Allen in 2025, the Jaguars roll with those two as their top backs.
In addition to that, while it can be improved, the Jaguars aren’t in a great salary cap situation at the moment, so Jacksonville may be better off devoting the cap resources they do have to other positions.